Low Emissivity (E) Ceilings

Radiant heat (ceiling radiation) can account for almost 30% of the entire heat load being absorbed through the ice pad. It is by far the single largest heat load. Lighting radiation accounts for a further 7%. When combined with the ceiling radiation, over 1/3rd of the heat absorbed in an ice rink is from the area immediately above the ice pad. To reduce demand on the refrigeration plant, Low Emissivity ceilings have been introduced and more and more rink operators are reaping the long term financial benefits that their initial capital investment provides. Typical return on investment (ROI) is 3 - 4 years.

The Low E works at 90 degrees to the ice surface and a typical installation would see the ceiling lining positioned close to the rafters of the roof structure, supported through a matrix of tort wires. With it's reflective surface, the material can increase the lighting LUX levels by up to 50%. This additional benefit means that less lighting is required to achieve the desired LUX levels for the building. The white ice sheet below reflects off the lining and gives a much brighter appearance covering what are typically bland, industrial looking roof voids. With a material guarantee of 10 years, the Low E ceiling is a must-have in all existing and new ice rinks.

Read our Low E guide for further technical information.